Sanitary apparatus with air gap



Jan. 23, 1.940. w. c. GROENlGr-:R

ASANITARY APPARATUS WITH AIR GAP Filed Feb. 9, 1939 lam C. @weniger l A ToRNEY INVENTOR Patented Jan. 23, 1940 UNITED' sTATEs 2,187,738 SANITARY APPARATUS vvvrrn Am GAP William C. Groenger, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to John B. Pierce Foundation, New YorkN. Y., va. corporation of New York Application February 9, 1939, Serial No. 255,401

8 Claims.

This invention relates to sanitary apparatus of the type embodying a receptacle and a system of piping for supplying water to the receptacle.

The invention is particularly directed to sanitary apparatus, of the specified type, wherein there is provided an air vent or gap for relieving any tendency toward the formation of a vacuum in the system of water supply piping.

A piping system supplying Water to several outlet devices for a variety of uses is many times called upon to deliver more Water than is possible considering the flow capacity of the system. Under such or analogous conditions there arises in the system a tendency toward the creation of a vacuum, which, if not relieved, is likely to establish what is known in the sanitary art as a cross connection and to syphon polluted water, standing dormant in receptacles of certain types of the outlet devices, back into the supply piping. This intermingling of polluted Water with potable water being supplied, is likely to endanger the healths of those using the system.

Vario-usly arranged air vents and diaphragm air valves have heretofore been associated with the outlet devices of such a system, for breaking the syphon and safeguarding health.

In my copending application Serial No. 163,383, filed` September 11, 1937, and entitled Defecator with combined flushing jet and air break there is disclosed an air vent or gap disposed well above the overflow spill level of a sanitary bowl or receptacle, in communication with the waiter supply inlet,.and arranged in such lmanner as to pass a minor flow -of the ushing water therethrough and into the receptacle in the form of an additional flushing jet. vThe present invention Was developed primarily as an improvement on the construction disclosed in my aforestated copending application, but in its more generic sense,\is applicable to a variety of types of sanitary apparatus.

An object of this invention is the provision of means for positively diverting a minor portion of the inflow of water through the air vent or gap into the receptacle.

An object `is the provision of valve means for In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a Vertical section taken centrally through a preferred type of sanitary apparatus embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the -l5 upper right hand portion of Fig. 1 illustrating a slightly different valve construction. l

Fig. 3 represents a slightly enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. -1. I

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but illustratingl a different form of the invention.

Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section taken on the une 5 5, Fig. 4. l

The embodiments illustrated in the drawing T15 represent merelyan'example of types `of vsanitary apparatus incorporating features of this inven-v tion. They disclose defecator construction which is essentially similar tothat set forth in my ypreviously referred to copending application Serial No. 163,383.

With respect to Figs. 1 and 2, a'defecatoi` bowl I 0 provides a'waste receiving and discharging receptacle. An evacuator construction',v indicated generally at II, serves as the discharge l25 passage for liquid and waste matter flushed'from the bowl. As illustrated, thebowl Il) and the evacuator II maybe formed integral with each other from vitreous china or other suitable material.

An important feature of the inventionresides in the provision of an air vent or gap located well above the overflow spill level of the receptacle so that it is constantly open to the atmosphere beyond all possible iiovv communication with f liquid contents of the receptacle, and, further, in the provision of a valved inlet adjacent `the .air vent or gap for lthe supply of flushingwaterltothe apparatus from a Water supply piping system. The air vent or gap preferably is so arrangedl as to direct a jet of water across inner surfaces of the bowl substantially unserved by flushing jets otherwise provided.l AThe valve associated with the inflow is advantageously of a type which is normally'maintained open by the force of gravity and which closes due to suction exerted within the connes of the water supplypiping, thus absorbing the shock of sudden suction eects. The valve element advantageously acts as a distributor for the inflowing Water, and positively directs a minor flow' thereof out through the air vent or gap in the form of a flushing jet.

In the illustrated construction, thebowl .I II has a rim Illa which embodies a rim channel I2 and provides rim jets I3 at spaced rintervalsjaround55 its length. The rim Ia. does not completely encircle the bowl, but merges into the rear portion of the defecator at the lateral sides thereof, thus leaving a rear portion of the inner surfaces of the bowl I0, see |012, unserved by rim jets I3.

A distributing chamber Id is formed at the rear of the bowl by enclosing front and rear walls, indicated I5, I5.

For providing an air vent or gap I6 disposed well above the overow spill level-indicated by broken line I'I-the front and rear walls I5 are extended upwardly, as at IE-I to join upstanding lateral walls I8, I8, and top wall E9, and thus to form an upper extension ifi-l, of distributing chamber I4. For a purpose hereinafter made clear, upward extension I4--I of the distributing chamber I4 is of comparatively narrow width. Air vent or gap I6 is formed between the upper part of front wall I5-I and top wall I9, and advantageously extends across the width of the upper chamber I4-I. Top wall I9 is .preferably curled downwardly at the front, see I.9a, to provide a spout formation, for air vent or gap I6, which overhangs the bowl inner surface Ib.

By the expression well above the overflow spill level is .meantsuch a distance above the overflow spill level of the bowl as will preclude all .possibility of liquid vnow cross connection between the contents of the bowl-no matter at what level-and the air vent or gap. One and a half inches above is a safe minimum, but preferably the distance is even greater.

The bowl Ill may be provided with any preferred type of main flushing jet or jets. As illustrated, the main jet channels 29, 20 extend downwardly from communication with distributing chamber I4 at opposite sides of the bowl, and merge at the main jet opening 2|.

For supplying flushing. water to the distributing chamber portions I4 and III-I, piping .22 leads downwardly into chamber upper portion, Id-I, through the top wall I9. The connection may be made in any suitable water-tight manner, but it is preferred to employ a spud connection comprising a downwardly flared coupling'23, whose lower circumferential rim forms an annular valve seat, see 23a, for a movable valve element. The annular valve seat, however, may be provided in a number of different ways obvious to those skilled in the art. The connection may be made water-tight in any suitable manner, as for instance-by employing a rubber gasket24 and associated ring nut and washer, indicated generally at' 25. The ring nut and associated washer indicated generally at 26, may be provided as a water-tight capping for the connection.

Positioned in the coupling 23, and extending transversely of the passage therethrough, is a spider 23h, which may be integral with the abutment rim 23e of thecoupling'ZS, as is illustrated in Fig. l, orwhich may be secured therein in any convenient mannen as for .instance as is shown in Fig.`2, between the received end 22a of piping 22 and the abutment rim 23'c ofcoupling 23.

The movable valve element associated with the supply piping'22 is preferably a disk 21 slidably mounted on a slideway 23 passed through an aperture formed at the center of the disk. Slideway 28 may be conveniently provided by a relatively long bolt .whose shank is unthreaded throughout the greater .part of its length. The bolt is passed througha centralperforation in the spider-23h, Fig-1, or 23-I, Fig. 2, and is. supthe force of gravity, and, thus, provides a table formation adapted to positively direct a minor portion of 'the inowing water through air vent or gap I6 to form aflushing jet which scours the bowl inner surface Ib. The remainder of theiniiowing,liquid descends through chamber upper portion II to chamber lower portion I 4,

,and thence, through the rim channel I2 and the main, jet channels 2li, into the bowl ID. Inow of' ushing water through supply piping 22 may be controlled bya iiushometer of conventional type (not shown).

Should there be any tendency for a vacuum to yarise in the supply piping 22, the suction eiect created will'draw movable valve element 2'I upwardly against valve seat 23a, Fig. l, or 23a, Fig..2. Thus, movable valve element 2l', as it closes, absorbs the shock of the suction, and, coincidentally,` air, for dissipating the vacuum conditions, is sucked in through air vent or gap I 6.

In-Figs. 4 and 5 is illustrated a slightly different embodiment of the construction illustrated in the prior iigures. A'wall 35 extends transversely across the upper part of chamber upper portion III-I, just below the'air vent or gap I6, to form anairinflow passage 39. The coupling, which connects supply piping 22 through top wall I9. has a depending skirt3'I passing through and across air `passage 35 and down through a suitably'providedv aperture 38 in transversely extending wall 35. The lower rim 31a of depending skirt .31 forms a valve seat for a movable valve element 39.

The spider 37b is formed integral with the` present,r in the,piping.22, movable valve element 39 moves upwardly on a slideway into contact with yalveseat Sla, thus absorbing the shock of the suction. Coincidentally, air isdrawn through air vent or gap I6 and ports 4I to overcome the abnormal vacuum conditions in the supply piping.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to the sanitary apparatus of the type disclosed in my copending applicationSerial No. 163,383, it should be understood that, in its generic concept, it is applicable to many diierent types of sanitary apparatus. Further, various structural changes may be made in the specic embodiment of valve mechanism, .and in its disposition relative to the air vent or gap, without departing from the spirit and scope of the -invention as set forth'herein and in the claims that follow.

I claim: l

1. In combination with sanitary apparatus, a sanitary receptacle adapted to be ilushed; a hollow upstanding portion extending Well above the overflow spill level of the receptacle and forming a chamber for the distributionr of ilushing liquid to the receptacle; inflow means for flushing water communicating with said chamber at the top of said hollow upstanding-'portion and forming a valve seat thereat; an air gap formed in the upper part of said hollow upstanding por* tion and communicating with said chamber; and

a valve element, normally maintained in open position by gravity, and adapted to seat over said inflow means by the force of suction effective through said inflow means.

2. In combination with sanitary apparatus, a sanitary receptacle adapted to be flushed; a hollow substantially closed upstanding portion extending above the overflow spill level of the receptacle and forming a substantially enclosed chamber for the distribution of flushing liquid to the receptacle; piping, for the supply of flushing liquid, communicating with said chamber through the closed top thereof; a valve seat associated with said piping Aadjacent its location of intersection With said closed top of the chamber; a valve element slidably'mounted on substantially vertical slideway means, said slideway means being associated with said valve seat, whereby said valve element is normally held out of engagement with said valve seat due to gravity but is adapted to move into engagement with said valve seat due to suction when there is a vacuum in said piping; and an air Vent disposed in the upper part of said upstanding portion and communieating with said chamber.

3. Apparatus, as recitedl in claim 2, wherein the air gap is disposed adjacent toand in substantially horizontal alignment-with the zone of movement of the valve element, and wherein the valve element is so constructed and arranged as to direct a minor portion of the inflowing iiushing water through the air gap.

4. In combination with sanitary apparatus, a sanitary receptacle adapted to be ilushed; a hollow substantially closed upstanding portion 'extending above the overflow spill level of the receptacle and forming a substantially enclosed chamber for the distribution of flushing liquid to the receptacle; piping for the supply of ushing liquid, communicating with said chamber through the closed top thereof; a spud connection joining said piping with said closed top of the chamber and forming a valve seat thereat; a spider supported by said spud connection and extending across the opening thereof; a rod depending substantially centrally from said spider; a valve element slidably disposed on said rod in such manner as to be normally positioned adjacent the bottom end thereof due to gravity but capable of automatically moving upwardly into engagement with said valve seat when there is suction in said piping; and an air vent disposed in the upper part of said upstanding portion and communicating with said chamber.

5. Apparatus, as recited in claim 4, wherein the air gap is disposed adjacent to and in substantially horizontal alignment with the zone of movement ofthe valve element, and wherein the valve element is so constructed and arranged as to direct a minor portion of the inflowing flushing Water through the air gap.

6. Apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein a substantially horizontal partition extends across the chamber immediately belowfthe air vent, wherein there is an extensionof the pipingpassseat and the valve velement are disposed below the said partition, and wherein there are ports formed in said extension of the piping and communicating with the air vent.

7 In combination with sanitary apparatus I which includes a receptacle adapted to be flushed,

inow means adapted to connect with a piping l system for the supply of ushing vwater to the receptacle, an air gap disposed well above the overiiow spilllevel of the receptacle and establishing communication betweenvthe said inflow means and the atmosphere, and valve means associated with said inow means, said valve means including a valve element normally maintained open Aby gravity but adapted'to close by the force of suction operativewithin said piping system.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 'l wherein the air gap is disposed adjacent to and in substanthe receptacle.

WILLIAM C. GROENIGER.

`25 ing through the said partition, wherein the valve 

